Finland

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Helsinki Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Standard European two-pin plugs are in use.

Language

Finnish and Swedish share status as Finland's official languages. Sami is spoken by the isolated population group in Lapland. English is taught at schools and is widely understood.

Travel Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to Finland.
Visitors to the Aland Islands in the summer months should be
cautious of tick-borne encephalitis. A tetanus-diphtheria vaccine
is recommended for all travellers who have not received one within
the last 10 years. Tap water is safe to drink in Finland. Medical
care is of a good standard and medication is easy to find. British,
and other EU nationals, should ensure they take a European Health
Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles citizens to emergency medical
treatment on the same terms as Finnish citizens. Comprehensive
travel insurance is advised.

Tipping

Tips are not expected in Finland because a service charge is
generally added to restaurant, bar and hotel bills, but customers
often choose to round up the bill when paying in cash. Taxi drivers
also appreciate any small change or coins that are added to round
up the fare.

Safety Information

Crime levels are low in Finland and visitors can be assured of a
trouble-free vacation. Drug offences and drinking and driving are
dealt with very harshly. The main danger in the country is driving
during the winter months, when icy roads are a hazard and cars must
be fitted with snow tyres.

Local Customs

A Finnish way of life, the sauna is a popular activity in
Finland, so expect to encounter one. Words are taken seriously in
Finland and people are held to what they say, so think before you
speak.

Business

Business is conducted formally in Finland. A formal, understated
sense of dress is important. Punctuality is also very important in
Finland and being late is considered rude. Appointments should
always be made and confirmed. Meetings are often strictly business
and are not often over lunch. Finns do not require a strong
relationship prior to doing business, and business often takes
place over the phone, fax and via e-mail. However, the sauna is an
important part of the culture and it is not unusual for business to
be discussed in this environment on a more sociable level. Finns
are very direct and prefer getting straight to the point. Often a
verbal agreement may hold. At meetings business cards are exchanged
and should have, on the alternate side, details in Finnish.
Business hours are generally 8am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday.

Communications

The international country dialling code for Finland is +358. The
outgoing code is 00, 990, 994 or 999, followed by the relevant
country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for
Helsinki is (0)9. Mobile phone networks cover much of the country;
the network operators use GSM networks, which are compatible with
most international mobile operators. Besides public telephone
booths and hotels, calls can be made from post and tele offices.
Internet cafes are available in major towns and cities. For
international telephone enquires visitors should call 020208, and
for local enquiries dial 020202.

Duty Free

Travellers to Finland arriving from the EU can enter Finland
without restrictions on the quantity of purchases, provided they
have been bought in the EU for personal consumption or as gift
items. No restrictions are placed on meat and dairy products. Some
restrictions may apply to selected tobacco products. Travellers
over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries are allowed to bring
in the following items without incurring customs duty: 200
cigarettes, or 100 cheroots, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco.
Travellers over 20 years can bring in 1 litre of spirits with
maximum 22% alcohol content, or 2 litres of fortified or sparkling
wine not exceeding 22% alcohol content, and 2 litres of
non-sparkling wine and 16 litres of beer; perfume up to 50g and
250ml of eau de toilette; and other goods for personal consumption
to the value of €175.

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